"Wow!" Arianna exclaimed once she laid eyes on the beautiful view of the garden. "I never knew a garden was here." The autumn flowers were blossoming under the tinted orange and blue sky while the little sun rays kissed it. The fragrance they give and the beautiful greenery were soothing while dancing slowly with breeze.
"You love gardens, don't you?" Zariel asked.
"I do. They remind me of my mother" Those times when she and her mother would spend the whole day tending to them while growing a stronger bond between themselves. But ever since her mother left, the flowers in her life withered away.
"Come, help me tend to them" Zariel said. They walked forward and began pruning the bushes and watering the plants. Arianna felt she was doing this alongside her mother. It felt so good to do it once again. But then remembered something she had been curious about.
"I saw the wound on Mr. Han's chest. How did he get hurt?" She asked.
"He got into a fight with someone" Zariel replied.
"Who?"
"I don't know" she said, not wanting to tell her about the demon.
"What kind of fight was it that Mr. Han got badly injured? Though it's healing already, it seems quite deep." Arianna said. Thinking he might have gone through a lot of pain.
"A fearsome one. A kind of fight in which one has to die to determine the winner. Luckily, young master didn't die "
"Does that mean he killed his opponent?" Arianna asked, still curious
"Of course. He had to"
He even kills people? Is it to protect someone like he did for her? Why is he so mysterious?
"Everyone has a mystery behind them" Zariel said "Like me, one thing mysterious about myself is that I rarely grow old." She touched her face in delight. "So how about you? What is mysterious about you?"
"Well, I'm not sure.... but I have this birth mark that leaves me wondering."
"Can I see it?" Zariel asked with eagerness.
"Sure" Arianna lifted her sleeve up above her left shoulder and on it was that silvery crescent mark.
"My mother said it's a birth mark. I wonder how a birth mark could be like this. Sometimes it even glows. When I was little also, I could see ghosts and I would run away from them because I was very scared. Later they stopped showing themselves to me" Arianna said.
"You can see ghosts?" Zariel asked
"Yes" Arianna whispered "Even demons and angels. I wonder why I can see them. People thought I was crazy."
Zariel just stared at her. She knew it. Her suspicions were true. It's her.
Ever since Arianna came into the house, she's been wondering why a normal human would have such angelic aura. Her beauty was so intense, though it takes more of the eyes to see it. Her cheerfulness and her presence was something she couldn't fathom. Even when Ryan brought her home without knowing the main reason. He just felt drawn to her. It could only mean it's her.
*....*...*.....*...*....*...*...*...*...*...*
The sun had gone down and everyone had dinner, retiring to their rooms immediately. But Zariel and Arianna stayed back, talking about other stuffs. Arianna felt at home. This was a true home. The kind she had wanted, where she had someone to talk to and not get isolated all the time.
After a while, Zariel felt sleepy, so they went up to their rooms. It was past ten already, so Arianna took a quick shower, putting on her baby pink night gown that reached her mid calf. With long sleeves reaching her elbow.
She wanted to read the book before sleeping, but couldn't find it in her room. Then it struck her after much thinking. She had left it in Ryan's room.
"Damnit!" She cursed. What would she do now? She needs that book. Exhaling in disappointment and frustration, she crawled onto her bed and covered herself with the duvet.
She tossed and tossed, restless. She was finding hard to sleep as she so badly wanted to read, even if it's just a page.
Gathering up courage, she tiptoed out of her room to Ryan's room. She knocked lightly on his door but no one answered. He must be asleep by now. Gently, she opened the door and tiptoed in. Closing it gently to avoid waking him up and announcing her presence. The lamp in his room was so dim, she could only make his silhouette which laid on the bed, and a few things. The windows were open, and the little light from the half moon peeked through the curtains. If she was someone who finds little things creepy, she would have screamed on top of her lungs because of the way the things in his room appeared to be.
Arianna gulped. Just how would she find it? She looked around carefully for it. Then finally, her eyes caught it on the bedside table. She was sure it was it because of the lamp.
Arianna bit her lower lip, walking stealthily towards it. Once she laid hands in it , she heaved a low sigh, turning to leave.
But then, Ryan grasped her wrist, pulling her towards the bed. She had her back against it, and he hovered over her.
Arianna clutched the book tightly over her chest. He wasn't asleep? Did she wake him? She gulped in nervousness.
"What are you doing in my room by this time of the night?" Ryan asked slowly, in a soft gentle tone that can make women go crazy.
"I.... I... C-Came to t-take this b-book" she stuttered. Her chest going up and down. Due to the lamp she could see his face a little clearly, and it worsened her situation.
Ryan took a glimpse of it, then back into her eyes.
"The book could wait, can't it?" he asked with a tiny grin unnoticeable.
"I... I couldn't s-sleep so.... I... I wanted to read" she replied. Her heart knocking wildly against its cage, begging to be released. Her breath unevened, and she was like cat on hot bricks. Her face flushed, growing more red by the minute. God, what would she do?